One of our astute readers let us know about a bug that appears to be present in all stock, unrooted, Motorola DROID 2s (and potentially other Android 2.2 devices with BLUR). The bug allows users to execute Google Voice Actions on their device even when the handset is locked and a passcode is activated. With your DROID 2 locked, and the passcode prompt on the screen, holding the “search” softkey or keyboard-key for four seconds will — without giving the user any feedback — still trigger Google’s Voice Actions. Speaking: “Call 555-555-1234” or “Call Home” will actually make your DROID 2 do just that (assuming “home” is in your phonebook). We couldn’t make our Nexus One or Captivate replicate the issue, so we’re assuming it is a Motorola/BLUR specific issue. Anyone out there with a DROID X running Android 2.2 able to get their handset to do the same? We’ve reached out to Motorola for comment and will update the post as soon as we hear back. There is a short video demonstrating the issue after the break.

Mine didn’t do it. I tried on the slide-to-unlock screen and the draw-a-pattern screen, no voice action dialog appeared after holding down the search hard-button.

lurch

Oh, man. Apple fanboys are gonna go ape shit over this.

Andrew Munchbach

They shouldn’t, I distinctly remember a lock screen workaround that involved hitting the “emergency call” button then the home button a couple years ago. Things like this happen… hopefully they fix it soon.

lurch

Andrew, it doesn’t matter. You know how outrageously people on here cling to any little issue that might come up on a phone they don’t like.

A guy in Omaha breaks the charging port on his Droid X? Suddenly, they’re all pieces of shit.

Flame Wars, brotha.

Just Saying

There is no risk with iPhone here. Yes you could work around the lock screen but as soon as you picked up the phone the call would drop. A special feature that Mr. Jobs provided.

Daniel

Also, this is a bug specific to Motorola (and maybe even just the devices with Verizon’s customizations; someone somewhere can confirm). My Nexus One, with vanilla Android 2.2.1 (as it should be), does not have this bug. It’s not an Android bug, it’s a Motorola (or Verizon?) bug.

chaosman

exactly that was a few years ago. Its almost 2011. Should these type of bugs even be around at this point?

sirpaul

It’s not the same OS…
Although this particular bug shouldn’t have been overlooked. Seems obvious.

Norm

They better not. DROID is a far superior and more stable OS than iOS. It would be a blatant lie if they even spoke on the matter. DROID DOES.

lurch

Norm, do me a favor and don’t respond to my posts.

Norm

lurch,

As an official DROID expert from VZW I can assure you I am only here to help. I’m sorry you are unsatisfied with your iphone. Perhaps a DROID from VZW would better fit you? It is a far superior OS when it comes to security and overall experience. It’s open source which makes it even more secure to the end user. If you would like to contact me directly please email at NormDROID@VZW.com. Thanks

lurch

No, thanks. I have an Android through a far superior company.

Norm

You are probably on Sprint…and poor.

lurch

Probably not.

Norm

Lurch you are poor and are either on Tmobile or Sprint and have some POS. YOU DONT HAVE DROID!

lurch

I have neither, and I’m not poor.

Norm

I’m convinced you are and that you love Nascar.

Goofan (Apple Hater)

I don’t like your attitude missy! The fact that you love apple and hate google makes you a target for us warriors for our lord and savior Eric Schmidt and google.

Eric

What’s NASCAR have to do with this?

Steve Jobs

You mean comment-dropping like call-dropping?

Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

I guarantee you that this was fabricated by the evil, devil worshiping Steve Jobs and his minions!

MadSkillz

So if it were them having the problem you guys would flood with all the crapple and droid does rants?

Come to think of it you guys do it no matter what a article is about. even in throwback articles. Thats sad.

Anyways, security issues are nothing to joke about. I for one hope they get that issue fixed ASAP.

Ernie

Don’t the Goofans do the same thing for Apple issues? Heck, they still talk about duct tape.

?

Seems like they didn’t

lolmoney

HAHAHA, enjoy kids. Droid DOES NOT this is a child’s phone that comes with crayons.

BB OS 6 STABLE.

AtlHarry

I could voice dial on my BB while it was locked as well. BTW… please try to remember that IF your OS is stable, it took 6 major releases to get there.

RealDeal

You can voice call on a locked BB only if you have enabled that feature. I don’t think BB has ever had a flaw like this. None that I remember anyways.

AtlHarry

Don’t get me wrong, BB is very secure (as long as it’s not attached to BES). More of a comment responding to the BB OS 6 STABLE line.

RealDeal

The regular battery pull days pretty much ended with OS5 so I would say OS5 and OS6 are very stable OS’s. As for OS4 it definately had it’s problems, but it was first released over 7 years ago, and back then it was a pretty impressive OS for a phone. RIM just waited too long to replace it, as usual.

lolandroid

understand, android is on its 6th revision going onto 7 in a few months and they can’t get it right.

And your point being 6 major releases to get there, get where? bb has been stable since the initial release of the pager in 1999.

Droid is a fail device targeted for children, no security you can’t compare to the infrastructure and security of a bb.

Android kids keep the fail arguments coming, thx.

AtlHarry

Major releases. BB has had plenty of minor releases as well. And BB has NOT been stable since the initial release. Are you new to the BB world? Ever had to pull your battery because your phone froze up?

C’mon… don’t lie…

Akbar

Harry, you must be an idiot to think any android device has the security. encryption and stability of a bb, you keep back tracking your argument try and keep up.

Justin Case

Who cares!

The Droid commercials still kick ass.

ev

Works on Droid X

MONOPOLY MAN

LOOOOOOLLLLLLLL these phones are GARBAGE.

AtlHarry

I don’t really know that this is a bug or security flaw. If you have a 8 digit pin (or even a 4 digit pin), would you want to have to input that while driving? I wouldn’t. “Call home” is a important FEATURE for me.

Norm

DO NOT WORRY! This is no big deal. DROID is perfectly fine and this is just propaganda from Steve Jobs and Apple. DROID is the most stable OS available on the market today. It surpasses iOS leaps and bounds and even trumps Blackberry which is a security joke. Also if you are on the VZW network you are 100% more protected than At&t or Sprint. We have more 3G and that means we are more secure with data. So everyone just relax. DROID DOES and Apple sucks.

AtlHarry

Why oh why did Cheers have to close? Norm has WAAAY too much free time on his hands now.

nyynke98

Norm, would love to hear how Verizon’s CDMA is more secure than Sprint’s. You realize the technology is inherently secure, and that having “more” 3G has nothing to do with security. Oh yeah, you also realize that both carriers roam on each other

JB

Works on My X, Not a big deal to me. Not like someone can read my Txts or Do anything on my phone other then calls when its locked.

Im sure a Fix will be enroute, no rush not a big flaw IMO

smartphonefreak

JB, run a voice search and then hold your home key and switch to one of your recently used apps. This is where the problem lies.

Wild Bill

What difference does it make? Cell phones are not Ft. Knox’s when it comes to security. I don’t care if they are Androids, Apples, BB’s or anything else anyone cares to name.

If you want security, buy a box of Depends, cause you are’nt going to get it from a cell phone.

GN

I soak right thru mine Bill..not that secure…put an inground safe in your home, 1″ thick solid steel all the way around, and about 2ft down, with cement reinforcement around that…stick your motorola inside that…your golden…

AtlHarry

along with anything plugged in.

Wild Bill

Well Harry, thats not entirely true.

My waffles this morning went securely from my plugged in toaster to my mouth.

I didn’t worry much about my waffle data being swiped or sold to a call center in Swaziland

AtlHarry

False sense of waffle security… nothing can be done about that. Next time, make sure you put an extra thick layer of syrup on that bad boy. You’ll be able to follow the sticky track right back to Ghana.

Wild Bill

That’s an ez fix.

Just get the Depends with the Froyo Update.

MicroNix

We’re worried about this when Windows desktops are being pwned by the second. But we still buy them and use them every day.

ktowncrawler

motoblur fail

RGmako

Norm do you have any fact behind any statement??
BB less secure?? BB has the highest security also there is no difference over GSM to CDMA security

slammer

If GSM has incorporated W-CDMA in your area, then there indeed would be no difference in security. CDMA/WCDMA is virtually impossible to hack due to the complexity of the code structure. GSM’s platform has been hacked with just a few thousand dollar’s worth of equipment.

In reality, I don’t think most of us have much to worry about in someone breaching our security. But it is what it is. CDMA is far more secure than the older GSM.

John B.

jntdroid

Doesn’t the iPhone (3Gs and 4) also allow voice commands while locked? I don’t think this is a bug or flaw.

slammer

If GSM is running a

Scott

Droid Does have security flaw

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Phoenix Americas

AtlHarry

You realize that iPhones are jailbroken through security flaws… right? You do… don’t you? No? Maybe you thought they were magical…

GN

cracks me up, how everything is “fail” on this board…eventually every device will fail, according to the Einsteins we have on board..beginning to think, everyone is computer science major here…guess I missed my calling…lol

Wild Bill

GN,

They are beyond Einstein. Beyond Freud.

As I’ve said mant times….What we have on BGR is the worlds biggest community of Phone Psychics.

They can predict anything you can imagine when it comes to cell phones. Hell! They can even make predictions about phones that are not even out yet!

That ability just blows me away!

lolandroid

how mant times is that ?

we can expect comments like yours from idiotic droid owners.

did you forget to take your pocket protector to school today ?

MicroNix

as well as iTards…you really think this is one sided here? Where do you think the droid owners learned how to insert sarcasm? Maybe from the years of pompus iPhone users who thought their waste didn’t stink? Let’s be real here!

grrr

Can moto please lose the stupid blur skin already? At the very least keep it off their high end devices.

tarman

So it sounds like it’s an issue with Moto Blur since devices running 2.2 without Blur don’t seem to have this bug. Seems like a proof positive reason to just run stock android on phones.

MacMan

Droid Fails ALOT.

MicroNix

…as do your posts, but who’s counting?

MacMan

My post burn like an STD to the hearts of droid fanatics.

http://www.fullchipdesign.com/tyh/computingdevice.htm A@smart_phone

Not with 2.2 my phone works just fine

http://beerpla.net Artem Russakovskii

Couldn’t repro on Droid 1. Droid 2 was *kind of* working but the voice actions menu appeared behind the lock (though I was never able to successfully make it dial without popping up a different prompt yet).

Gaga

Who gives a shit if you can make calls when its locked?
What is somebody going to steal your phone and call you?

Lmao at people making a big deal out of nothing.

Perspective

Luckily, since this is a Droid, the command “call girlfriend” will not result in a call, nor will the “call non-geeky friend” command.